Another f***ing article on productivity (Part 1)

I fundamentally believe that productivity and happiness are closely linked. When my girlfriend has a productive week and paints more canvases than usual, I feel she is more fulfilled, more positive, and happier. The same goes for me! When I’ve signed good deals, created good content, or my clients are excited about their systems, the positive impact on my life is unmatched. The goal of my article is to share with you my basic tips for being ultra productive quickly. Above all, I hope to inspire you to develop your mindset regarding productivity.

So yes, yet another damn article on productivity! In 2019, I was reading 1 to 2 books a month on productivity and focus. If you’ve been reading me for a while, you probably know that I wrote 80,000 words in one month and that for a while, I was writing a minimum of 10,000 words per week. I also created video capsules and did podcasts. Now, I’m focusing more on videos because I enjoy it and it’s quicker!

The twist in all of this is that I also have to operate Gro, do consulting, develop business, and organize the #GrowthGames… and you know what? I’m managing! I discovered while reading a dozen books on productivity that without even realizing it, I was applying two methods to be ultra productive: Hyperfocus and Deep Learning. The most important thing to remember from these books? To be productive, you need to have control over your attention and focus… which is great, because that’s exactly what we’re going to talk about!

But hey, what does it mean to be productive?

I have my own vision on this, a combination of the books I’ve read lately and how I imagine it in my head. Yeah. In my head.

Let’s imagine that tasks are made up of several blocks, each worth 1 unit. Some tasks are simple and have few blocks, while others are more complex and contain more blocks.

When I organize my days, I measure the amount of focus and time that my tasks will require. I assess the number of "block(s) per task" and do a micro introspection to see if it makes sense and to ensure I have the necessary energy. For example, mapping business processes with a team of 5 people is demanding. Whereas writing content is much less so. I calculate tasks using this super simple calculation:

1. Complexity of the task (from 1 to 3)

2. Stress related to the task (from 1 to 3)

3. Focus needed to complete the task (from 1 to 3)

Then, I multiply by the number of hours.

Here are some examples:

Hyperfocus